BILL NUMBER: SCR 31	CHAPTERED  07/23/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   73
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   JULY 23, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   JULY 15, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   MAY 24, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Polanco

                        APRIL 5, 1999

   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31--Relative to Latino Behavioral
Health Week.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 31, Polanco.  Latino Behavioral Health Week.
   This measure would proclaim the third week of September of each
year "Latino Behavioral Health Week."




   WHEREAS, The Latino population represents a significant percentage
of California's population; and
   WHEREAS, The Latino population continues to increase at a rapid
rate; and
   WHEREAS, Latinos suffer from mental illness and from alcohol and
other drugs in the same proportion as the general population; and
   WHEREAS, Latinos historically underutilize early intervention and
preventive public behavioral health services; and
   WHEREAS, Underutilization of early intervention and preventive
public behavioral health services leads to overuse of high-cost
services financed by the taxpayer; and
   WHEREAS, Underutilization of behavioral health care results in
unnecessary pain and suffering by Latino families; and
   WHEREAS, The State of California desires to eliminate unnecessary
pain and suffering of behavioral health disorders in the Latino
community; and
   WHEREAS, The State of California strives to provide quality and
fiscally prudent behavioral health care to the Latino community; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the third week of September of each year be
proclaimed "Latino Behavioral Health Week"; and be it further
   Resolved, That each county in California is expected to conduct
activities promoting awareness through community education,
screening, and referrals to linguistic and culturally appropriate
services, organized and implemented by community health, drug, and
mental health agencies; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
